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Filmmaker Ryan Coogler worked with Chadwick Boseman on Black Panther in 2018. However, almost five years after Boseman’s death, Coogler shared his feelings about working on the sequel to the film in an exclusive interview with The Guardian published on April 17, 2025.
Calling it “complicated grief,” Coogler said the time when the sequel was in the works was more difficult because of the pandemic. Moreover, Boseman’s death felt like a personal loss to the Black Panther team. Ryan Coogler said:
“Sometimes it’s actually a relief having something to do, so you can’t sit in that terrible feeling. After we put the movie out, my heart broke almost even more, because I realised all the work had been distracting me from the fact that Chad’s not going to make any more movies.”
On April 7, 2025, Coogler appeared on the Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM podcast, where he was asked what Chadwick Boseman brought out of him. The filmmaker shared that out of all the cast members, Boseman's death affected Michael B. Jordan the most.
Chadwick Boseman came across as a wise, old-school kind of man, someone grounded and mature. Compared to him, both Coogler and Michael felt like they were still learning and growing during their time working together.
Ryan Coogler explained that Chadwick Boseman had a deep impact on his life, not by giving direct advice, but by leading by example. He taught important lessons without making it obvious, and one of the greatest things he passed on to both was patience.
Ryan Coogler on his fondest memories with Chadwick Boseman
Speaking on the podcast, Ryan Coogler recalled that Chadwick Boseman stayed fully in character while filming Black Panther, even when they weren’t shooting. He used his African accent off-set too, like at dinner meetings, which caught some people off guard.
Coogler remembered Disney executives visiting during the second week of filming and being surprised when Chadwick Boseman greeted them in character. Coogler told them not to worry, as Boseman was deeply committed to his work and didn’t break character until filming wrapped for the day.
On April 15, 2025, Ryan Coogler sat down with Straw Hat Goofy’s Movies, where he was asked about his fondest memories with the late actor. The filmmaker said:
“When we would link off set it, would be life stuff. You know what I'm saying? Like very heavy.”
He went on:
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“One of the last times we linked in person, we went and got some food in LA and it was like after the press tour and he was in really good spirits, feeling good and bro we just talked about everything bro like life and where things was at his widow Simone is from the Bay Area. She from Valo okay. So, you know, and Zinzi and I and I live in the Bay still so he we were talking about getting together out there cause he was going to go up and see her family and stuff.”
Ryan Coogler shared that near the end of one of their conversations, he started telling Chadwick Boseman about the plans for Black Panther 2. He explained the entire storyline to him, and Boseman was excited about it. He seemed enthusiastic and felt they had set things up perfectly to tell that kind of story.
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